Garden to Table: Kale Chips Recipe

 Fresh and crisp from the garden we have plucked out first bushel of heirloom kale. We had so much of it left-over from dinner that we used the rest to make kale chips. Unfortunately, the chips were eaten so fast that I didn't have a chance to snap a photo. A sign that the snack was a delicious hit.

I was a bit intimidated at first by the idea of roasting a leafy green in my oven until it became "crispy." I thought for sure it would disintegrate into dust, or burn into a charcoal mess. To my surprise, neither occurred. Instead I was delighted with a lighter than air snack doused in salt and oil that I could proclaim was "healthy."

To make this tasty morsel for your mouth gather yourself some...
Fresh Kale
At least 4 tbls olive oil
Salt to taste

Wash, dry and remove the large stem from each shaft of kale. Chop the kale into the desired chip size (I just cut my leaves in half for a larger chip). Place the chopped kale into a mixing bowl and pour your olive oil and salt over the kale. Toss until the kale is well coated. transfer the kale onto a well greased baking sheet (I used vegetable oil to grease my pan). Place in the over at 400 Degrees Fahrenheit for 8-12 minutes (everyone's oven is so different. It took mine about 10 minutes). Remove the kale from the baking sheet onto a plate lined with either paper towels or clean flour sack cloths to absorb any extra oil. Let sit for a few minutes...then commence shoving the chips into your face without shame.

Do you have a favorite way to eat Kale? (seriously, I am going to have a ton of this stuff, so suggestions are most welcome).

***Giveaway*** Remember to enter the giveaway going on. You have until June 1st. See this POST for details.

Kind Hearts Are Gardens

We've been spending a lot of time in the garden in these last weeks of summer. We even have our first melon (yes, that mystery plant is a honey dew!).All of my garden helpers love to spend their free time tending and caring for all our plants. E even calls the melon a "baby" and has to pat it after each watering (2x a day). Not sure where that thought came from, I am just thankful he's being gently with it...unlike his strawberries that he devoured before they ever had a chance to turn.

All of this garden time reminded me of a little rhyme my grandmother shared with me many  summers ago. In summer I often spent most of my time swimming in the river or digging for life in my Grandma's garden.

Kind hearts are gardens, 

Kind thoughts are roots, 

Kind words are blossoms, 

Kind deeds are fruits.

Wishing you and yours much kindness in all forms during these last days of summer.

Unusual Container Gardens

I seem to have containers and plants on my mind these past few days. With all this talk about , and slow movements towards, moving all I can think about are for some reason are the gardens I am FINALLY going to get to plant.

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 Our new home will have garden space where I will (hopefully) have the ability to put a shovel into the earth to make holes to stick my plants in, but this new bungalow also has  a lot of potential for some beautifulcontainer gardens.

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I personally love the pallet gardens and the rain gutter garden ideas. The shear innovation of turning something obsolete into something usable and beautiful never seizes to inspire me.

Do you have gardens on your mind too?

In My Contained Garden: Mystery Plant

 

Remember this little guy? My mystery plant. Earlier this summer I planted a random seed, and shortly after that wee seed began bursting with large fan-like leaves. That was about two months ago.

And now...here is that "wee" plant. It's large and taking over and spilling out of its pot. We have determined it is some sort of melon, and we have a hunch it's honey dew.We even have a little round "melon" developing . E and I check on it every day to see how much bigger this "wee" plant of ours can get.

So, here's to reaching-growing-expanding to new heights this week. We have a lot on our plates this week. I think I will take it day by day. Surely and steadily everything will fall into place and grow-reach-expand  to its full potential. Just like my mystery plant.

How Our Contained Garden Grows

Our container garden is in full swing with the heat of the summer. Here's a sneak peak at what is growing, sporting, and hinting at blooming...

It's starting to get too hot for our lettuce and it will soon be time to trim it and move it to a cooler and shadier locations.

This is mystery plant #1. I am guessing it is some sort of squash or melon. I planted a bunch of seeds that we had saved and, um...forgot to mark which was which. We have several of these. Anyone know what it might be?

Mystery Plant 2

I am waiting in eager anticipation for these Star Lillies to bloom. Their buds continue to get bigger, but no flowers yet.

The tomatoes are getting plumper and it looks like the crop is going to be successful this year. The last time I grew tomatoes in a pot they died within a week. Secret? Lot's of sun, water and Dr. Earth Tomato Fertilizer.

The Wee-One helping out with the garden chores. One of his favorite activities

And how does your garden grow these days? Anything looking lush and ready for the picking?

Container Garden Book Giveaway Winner

 Now a little give away.  Use the comments to tell us your favourite food to grow in a container for a chance to win a copy of Lara Lucretia’s An Illustrated Guide to Growing Food on your Balcony along with three packs of carrot, dill and leek seeds from Cubit's. This combo perfectly demonstrates companion planting with potatoes in that if they taste good together, they probably grow well together (ie potato leek pizza).

step by step recap
Find a large container with good drainage.
Prepare your seed potatoes.
Plant your potatoes in well draining soil.
Ongoing water and basic care.
Add more soil.
Harvest!
Eat!

So, what’s your favourite food to grow in a container? make sure to leave your email or twitter handle so we can contact you.

Giveaway is Closed

Winner will be chosen by random on June 30th, 2011 and will have 48 hours to respond with mailing address.


The Winner is Jessica of http://thegoodlittlelife.blogspot.com/! Congratulations!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:11Powered by RANDOM.ORG

{Grow Your Own Potatoes} With Laura Watts of Cubit's Organics

Meet Laura Watts, The Face Behind Cubit's 

Hello New and Returning Readers! I am thrilled to share with you today a guest post from fellow blogger Laura Watts.  Laura is the face behind Cubit's, an etsy shop that sells rare, heirloom and organic seeds while blogging about gardening, local food and natural parenting over at www.CubitsOrganics.com Here's a great video featuring Laura and her helper Rebecca as they demonstrate their commitment to growing their own and eating local:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vw1Nz0mYSs

Today Laura is going to share with you her creative methods of growing a garden in just about anything! 

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Potatoes are absolutely one of the easiest things to grow and you can plant them in just about anything.




For years we grew them in a series of old garbage cans that we had drilled holes in and even in a big flower pot in our old kitchen.

Then we moved on to growing a clawfoot bathtub full of potatoes which I somehow don't have a photo of.  This year its full of beans and greens.

This year I’m reusing some grow bags that were given to us and I have them growing in a completely neglected space.  It’s the retaining wall of our front yard and neighbours parking space.  There are some hanging and some just tucked behind my bicycle.

 So to plant potatoes first you’ll need some seed potatoes.  You can either buy these specially or use ones from the grocery store that have grown eyes.  Its best to go organic as some grocery store potatoes have been treated so they wont grow eyes, but really most will work especially if you gently wash them. Be careful not to scrub off those eyes, that’s where the shoots are going to grow.




This year we're planting a combination of organic heirloom seed potatoes including Russian Blues and Purples as well as Rose Finn Apple fingerlings and a bag of organic red potatoes that sprouted on us by accident.

 You can either plant the whole potato or cut them up.  It’s a matter of personal preference.  I cut mine in half, making sure there is at least one eye per piece and then leave them in a dark spot for the cut to heal over night.

 Potatoes need about 6 hours of sun a day. I have normally tucked them away somewhere sort of cool and find they fill a less than perfect corner of the garden. These ones are in a planter in front of the composter.

As they grow, you will add more soil, maybe every two weeks I add a shovel full or so.




After anywhere from 2-4 months the leaves will turn brown and die.  That’s how you know its time to harvest! Use your hands if possible as a trowel can really wreck the tender new potatoes. I have just dumped the entire pot over on the patio in the past.  Quick and dirty.




Planting, growing and harvesting potatoes are all excellent activities for kids.  You really can’t mess it up and digging for them at the end of the season is like a little treasury hunt. Also I haven't met a kid that wont eat a potato so its an excellent activity to show where our food comes from.

GIVEAWAY!!!

 Now a little give away.  Use the comments to tell us your favourite food to grow in a container for a chance to win a copy of Lara Lucretia’s An Illustrated Guide to Growing Food on your Balcony along with three packs of carrot, dill and leek seeds from Cubit's. This combo perfectly demonstrates companion planting with potatoes in that if they taste good together, they probably grow well together (ie potato leek pizza).

step by step recap
Find a large container with good drainage.
Prepare your seed potatoes.
Plant your potatoes in well draining soil.
Ongoing water and basic care.
Add more soil.
Harvest!
Eat!

So, what’s your favourite food to grow in a container? make sure to leave your email or twitter handle so we can contact you.

Giveaway is Closed

Winner will be chosen by random on June 30th, 2011 and will have 48 hours to respond with mailing address.


The Winner is Jessica of http://thegoodlittlelife.blogspot.com/! Congratulations!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:11Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Solo Aqui::: Sprouting

Everything seems to be sprouting around here! From a little boy outgrowing every pair of pants he owns (literally) to all of our baby plants who now stand proudly reaching for the sun.

Our citrus trees have begun to grow. Lemons, grapefruits and limes! They are so adorable and fuzzy.

The tomatoes flowers shout with glee as they relish the warm sun. 

Some of the tomato plants even have baby tomatoes! 

Do you have anything growing and sprouting in your life?

In My Contained Garden

 This year we are attempting a container garden. In years past we have tried gardening directly in the Earth, but sadly those d*$%#@m...I mean, cute cuddly, buck-tooth, furry friends we call gophers have a just made it nearly impossible. I have attempted all but mass genocide of those furry creatures (and don't plan to go down that path) and so, the alternative? Pretty plots filled with plants!

Lot's of pots filled with plants.

 Our seed plants are just beginning to sprout and our herbs and strawberries are thriving. Our yard is suddenly in full bloom and we have been enjoying the lush spring air and warmth.

 We had our first meal out on the patio this weekend, and oh was it luxurious. Something calming and slowing about eating outdoors. Can't wait to bring out the picnic blanket again! Plus when you are surrounded by beautiful and happy plants, who wouldn't want to spend all their time in the outdoors?

I read several container gardening books before embarking on my contained adventure. Here's an abrieviated list of what I found helpful:

The Bountiful Container By McGee & Stucky

Kitchen Harvest By Susan Berry: Who wouldn't trust a gardener with a fruit for a last name?!


Grow Great Grub:Organic Food In Small Spaces By Gayla Trail

Do you have gardening plans this season?